Sunnyside Police Department

News Release

-- For immediate release --

08/05/09 1530 hours

Contact:          Charlotte Hinderlider

(509) 836-6222 office (509) 307-3826 cell

                                Sunnyside Police Department Main Number (509) 837-2120

Eluding Suspect in Custody

Sunnyside, WA- Shortly before midnight last night (August 4^th) Sunnyside Police Officers observed a green Lincoln Navigator speeding through a parking lot at a high rate of speed. Attempts to stop the vehicle were unsuccessful as the vehicle traveled through downtown Sunnyside and numerous residential areas around town. The driver, Fonseca, Rolando DOB 09/02/1985 began traveling the same roads throughout the city of Sunnyside and eluding officers from Sunnyside Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Yakima County Sheriff’s Office and Grandview Police Department. Several careful attempts to stop the vehicle using spike strips were unsuccessful. After the pursuit had gone on for over 40 minutes, Sunnyside Police Dispatch received a call stating that there might be small children in the vehicle. At that time the identity of the driver was known and the pursuit was terminated for safety reasons.

The suspect was taken into custody by the Yakima County Violent Crimes Task Force on August 5, 2009. He was booked at the Sunnyside City Jail and will be transported to Yakima County Jail on the following charges: RCW 46.61.024(1) Eluding, RCW 46.61.500 Reckless Driving and RCW 46.20.342.1a  DWLS 1st Degree.

Suspect Information:

Fonseca, Rolando

• DOB:   09/02/1985
• City of Residence: Sunnyside
• Charges:           RCW 46.61.024(1)  Eluding

                              RCW 46.61.500 Reckless Driving

                              RCW 46.20.342.1a  DWLS 1st Degree

Additional Information:

• This is Sunnyside Police Department case number 09-7445.
• The pursuit covered numerous streets of Sunnyside including; S. 6th, N. 6th, S. 4th, S. 5th, Grant, Harrison, Bridge, Sunnyside Ave, S. 1st, E. Lincoln, Crescent, Park Ave, Tacoma, S. 7th, S. 8th, Franklin, E. Edison, YVH, S. 13th, Custer, Blaine, Waneta, North Ave, Cemetery, Beckner Alley, I-82, N. 4th, Bagley and Decatur. The Navigator also drove at a high rate of speed through the Townhouse Motel parking lot four times.  During these times, there were numerous people in the parking lot.

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